Taylor Swift is one of today’s most beloved pop music superstars. She has gone from singing at local venues to commanding stadiums full of Swifties (her adoring fans) on international tours. This prolific artist has written many books for children and is also a major fashion icon. Discover more about the multi-award winning singer, songwriter, and actress through these books for every age.
taylor swift
Taylor was born in Reading, Pennsylvania and grew up on a Christmas tree farm. She spent her summers riding horses and competing in horse shows. She eventually became interested in musical theatre and starred in Berks Youth Theatre Academy productions of Bye Bye Birdie, Annie, and Grease. She also took voice lessons from the same instructor who taught LeAnn Rimes and went to auditions in New York City for Broadway roles. However, her interest in country music ultimately snagged her a contract with Scott Borchetta’s Big Machine Records at the Bluebird Cafe in Nashville.
Swift’s self titled debut album was released in October 2006 and peaked at number 5 on the Billboard 200 chart. The album sold over 500,000 copies in its first week and she became the youngest ever female to win an award at the CMAs. She spent much of 2006 and 2007 touring, both nationally and internationally, performing her singles on television shows and radio stations.
RED era
In 2012, Taylor began to experiment with genre and her fifth album, RED, was released in November of that year. The album topped the US charts and featured collaborations with Max Martin, Shellback, Nathan Chapman, Liz Rose, and more. The release marked a departure from her traditional sound and introduced her to many new fans.
The album stayed at the top of the charts for 11 weeks and was Swift’s biggest selling record to date. Her RED Tour was the highest grossing country concert tour at that time and grossed over $150 million.
Midnights era
In 2021, Taylor released the two albums, Lover and Folklore, which were produced by Jack Antonoff and described as “the stories of 13 sleepless nights scattered throughout my life.” These ruminative, low-key releases earned Swift the Apple Music Award for Songwriter of the Year in 2022. The following year, she embarked on the multi-year Eras Tour and pushed boundaries with her most honest, intimate work to date.
Tortured Poets Department era
In late 2018, Taylor signed a multi-album deal with Universal Music Group’s Republic Records, which granted her ownership of her master recordings. She followed that up in 2024 with her 11th studio album, The Tortured Poets Department, a study in extremes and heightened emotions.
This is the most recent album from Swift and she once again pushed boundaries with her style, lyrics, and production. USA Today praised it for exploring “more nuanced relationship issues” and for being an “unapologetically big pop record that opens up new sonic vistas for her.” The album was nominated for five Grammy Awards, including Album of the Year.
